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McDonald--who spent the entire 2014 season on the 60-day DL with a sore shoulder--elected to be a free-agent immediately (he was able to elect to be a FA because he has accrued more than three years of MLB Service Time). and Kalish and Valaika can elect free-agency right away, too (they have up to eight days to decide), because they both have been outrighted previously in their careers.

Vitters cannot elect to be a free-agent, but he will automatically be declared an MLB Rule 55 minor league six-year free-agent (6YFA) at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series unless he agrees to sign a 2015 minor league successor contract before then (possible but not likely... he will probably prefer to try his luck elsewhere). Kalish and Valaika will automatically be declared minor league 6YFA at that time, too, if for some reason they have not elected free-agency in the meantime.

All of the outrighted players can sign 2015 minor league contracts with the Cubs if they wish (with Valaika and Kalish being the most likely of the four to do so). Any player who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection (as was the case with Hector Rondon post-2012 and Marcos Mateo post-2013), although if any MLB club was interested enough in McDonald, Kalish, Valaika, or Vitters to select the player in the Rule 5 Draft, the club would have just claimed the player off waivers.

So the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man Roster) now stands at 37, but RHP Carlos Villanueva will automatically be declared an MLB Article XX-B free-agent at 9 AM (Eastern) tomorrow (or at 9 AM Eastern on Friday if the World Series ends after midnight Eastern). That will cut the roster down to 36. But then OF Justin Ruggiano and OF Ryan Sweeney must be reinstated from the 60-day DL no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series, so that will put the roster up to 38.

In addition, the Cubs must decide in the next few days whether to exercise their 2015 club options on LHSP Tsuyoshi Wada and RHRP Kyuji Fujikawa. (I would say Wada.. yes, and Fujikawa... no).

The Cubs also must decide by 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series whether to add any of their potential minor league free-agents to the 40-man roster. They could try and sign the ones they want to keep to 2015 minor league successor contracts (probably for 40-man roster money plus an NRI to Spring Training), but it's a player option... if the player doesn't want to sign on the line which is dotted, the only way to be sure to retain the player for 2015 is to add him to the MLB 40-man roster.

RHPs Marcus Hatley, Starling Peralta, and Dae-Eun Rhee (plus LHRP Hunter Cervenka if he is eligible) are the potential minor league free-agents the Cubs would probably most want to retain post-2014, but again, preferably by signing the player to a 2015 minor league successor contract rather than by adding the player to the MLB 40-man roster. .

SIX-YEAR FREE-AGENT:Lars Anderson, 1BJeffry Antigua, LHP Alberto Cabrera, RHPMarcelo Carreno, RHPLendy Castillo, RHP Hunter Cervenka, LHP (see NOTE)Charlie Cutler, CEduardo Figueroa, RHPLuis Flores, CEdgar Gonzalez, INFMarcus Hatley, RHPRyan Kalish, OFMarcos Mateo, RHPJonathon Mota, INFStarling Peralta, RHPCarlos Pimentel, RHPDae-Eun Rhee, RHPJose Rosario, RHPChris Valaika, INFJosh Vitters, OFNOTE: Hunter Cervenka will be eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA post-2014 if he signed a 2008 contract when he signed his "first contract" with the Boston Red Sox on 8-15-2008. However, if he was “Signed for Future Service“ (first contract was a 2009 contract), he will not be eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA until post-2015.

SECOND CONTRACT FA: Jesus Arias, RHP (previously released by CLE)Humberto Garcia, INF (previously released by CHW)Yeiker Lovera, RHP (previously released by CLE)Nate Maldonado, C (previously released by CHC)Manny Ramirez, OF (previously released by TEX)Brohiglyn Rivero, RHP (previously released by TB)Julio Sanchez, RHP (previously released by COL)Roberto Vahlis, C (previously released by TOR)

the cubs now have a "Cadillac" upper management structure (with 2 GMs running things and a huge-paid manager) and hopefully they're investing in a 4-5m a year babysitter to manage a team worth watching.
this intentionally tanking stuff is beyond old. come april i'd prefer the maddon talk to be the "well that's neat" of the off-season rather than the focus.

True. But Vitters brought to you by the same team that gave us other 1st round busts like Hayden Simpson, Mark Pawelek, Ben Christensen, Bobby Brownlie, Jerry Tabb, Scot Thompson, Drew Hall, Make Harkey, Ty Griffin, Lou Montanez, Tyler Colvin, and Brooks Kieschnick.
It's truly remarkable that management only managed to cull a handful of meaningful MLB contributors since 1965. We are talking guys like Palmiero, Woody, Joe Carter, Dunston, Jon Garland, Cashner - that's it. I am not counting Josh Donaldson, who the Cubs drafted, but managed to trade because they evaluated him less than a constantly-injured Rich Hardin.
in 50 years. 6 very good MLB players taken in the 1st round by the Cubs. When compared to winning organizations like the Braves, Dodgers, Cardinals, etc., it is both laughable and pathetic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chicago_...

These players were automatically removed from their club's 40-man roster at 9 AM (Eastern) today. The club retains exclusive negotiating rights with the player through 11:59 PM (Eastern) Monday night, after which the player is free to sign with any club.

There are 32 additional players (including Cubs LHSP Tsuyoshi Wada and RHRP Kyuji Fujikawa) who could be declared MLB Article XX-B free-agents depending on whether a contract option is exercised or declined prior to the Monday deadline.

The club has until Monday to decide whether to extend a Qualifying Offer to the Article XX-B FA (so that the club will receive a compensatory draft pick if the player signs a major league contract with another club prior to the next Rule 4 Draft). If a QO is offered, the player then has seven days to decide whether to accept or decline the QO.

To be eligible to receive a Qualifying Offer from his former club, the Article XX-B FA must have spent the entire previous regular season on the MLB Active List (25-man roster) and/or MLB DL or other MLB Inactive List of that club. Players acquired in a trade during the MLB regular season are not eligible to receive a QO.

A Qualifying Offer must be a one-year guaranteed major league contract with a salary at least equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid MLB players in 2014 (which is/was $15.3M). If an Article XX-B accepts a QO, the player must be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster immediately.

Also, an Article XX-B FA who signs a 2015 major league contract after the Monday deadline receives an automatic "no trade" right through next June 15th. However, if the Article XX-B FA either re-signs with his former club prior to the Monday deadline or signs a minor league contract at any time with any club, the player does not receive the automatic "no trade" right.

AZ PHIL:
Will CJ project out as a reliever in your view? Any other kids you have seen out there project as a potential TOR starter, or is Pierce Johnson about it? Have you seen Carson Sands yet? I remember you telling us about Chris Archer a "long time ago" when I would ask. Of course we know now Trey McNutt is better. Glad Jim Hendry realized it.

E-MAN: C. J. Edwards will continue to start in AAA and he could still eventually end up being a starter long-term, but I think it's likely that he projects initially as a late-inning reliever, along the lines of somebody like Neil Ramirez or Hector Rondon of the Cubs, or maybe Wade Davis of the Royals. That type of reliever. And then maybe as he matures Edwards could get slotted back into the starting rotation and be another Jake Arrieta, or he could stay in the bullpen and be very valuable there.

Exact same thing with Pierce Johnson. Edwards and Johnson have very similar upsides and both will probably break-in as relievers. They both have similar red flags, too, that being command/control. But when they throw strikes, Edwards and Johnson can be dominators.

Remember, we're not talking about just one or two more Brian Schlitters or Blake Parkers here. Edwards and Johnson have high-quality/high-leverage stuff, and both would probably throw even harder if they know they are pitching only one inning. It certainly helped Neil Ramirez and Justin Grimm. But with better command either Edwards and/or Johnson could be another Jake Arrieta. Or one or both could get traded.

As far as the pitchers who project as starters, I like Jen-Ho Tseng very much. I haven't seen him throw since Minor League Camp (he skipped Instructs because of an innings limit), but he was the best pitcher at Minor League Camp last March and so it was not a surprise to me that he had the year that he had at Kane County. But Tseng is more like Kyle Hendricks than he is like Edwards or Johnson. Tseng has outstanding command and is more durable (so far) than either Edwards or Johnson and projercts as a classic rotation starter. Whether he'll be a #1 or a #3 or a #5 or 4-A is TBD.

I saw Carson Sands pitch several times in the AZL and also at Instructs, and he has the repertoire you look for in a lefty starter. A plus-curve, a change-up he can throw for strikes, ansd a 91-92 MPH fastball with movement that occasionally touches 93. I guess a ceiing projection would be a Madison Bumgarner type, but that is true for a lot of guys after they first sign. But Sands is an outstanding young pitcher (so far).

Trevor Clifton has filthy stuff but he is more like Edwards and Johnson, with command being an issue. I believe Clifton and Sands will be in the starting rotation at Ft. Wayne next season. Jake Stinnett and Jeremy Null will likely be in the FW rotation, too. Stinnett is the classic RH starter with a plus-fastball, curve, and change-up. Null is 6'7 and he throws from a high-angle downward plane. Null's two-seam sinker is very good, but he also has a plus-slider. He's just a two-pitch pitcher right now, however, but if he can develpo a decent change-up he would be a definite MLB starter prospect. James Norwood throws 95-96 with a hard breaking ball, but he looks very raw for a college pitcher. He could be a "piggy-back" candidate at FW in 2015. LHP Justin Steele is another high-round LHSP from the 2014 draft class, and while he throws a bit harder than Sands, he is not as polished. I think Steele os more likely to be left behind at Extended Spring Training and then be the ace at Eugene.

Josh Conway has finally returned to full-time action after missing most of the last two seasons, first with TJS (before he was drafted, while he was at Coastal Carolina) and then the elbow fracture he sustained after slipping on a muddy mound at Maryvale (Brewers) while pitching at EXST in 2013. Conway has not got his fastball velocity back yet, and he is a slider first and fastball second type, with the change-up being very much a work-in-progress. So if he is just a "two-pitch pitcher" he'll end up in the bullpen (presuming he can get his fastball back to 93-94). Meanwhile he shoukld join Sands, Clifton, Stinnett, and Null in the starting rotation at FW in 2015 to get him more innings.

I am not as impressed with Erick Leal. I have seen him pitch literally dozens of times over the past two seasons (most recently at Instructs), and I have never seen him throw harder than 90 (and that's an outlier). His fastball sits consistemtly at 88-89, and it doesn't have movement. He is a curve-ball first pitcher.who uses the fastball to set-up the curve, but I'm not sure that will get him to MLB. He does not project as a reliever. It's strictly "starter or bust" for Leal, and he could be odd man out (relegated to "piggy-backing") if Sands, Clifton, Stinnett, Null, and Conway are indeed the starters at FW in 2015.

Tseng, Paul Blackburn, Duane Underwood, Daury Torrez, and Jonathan Martinez (acquired from LAD for Darwin Barney) will probably be the starters at Myrtle Beach, although LHP Tyler Ihrig was best pitcher at EXST this past season and did a nice job at Boise and KC. Ihrig could be the one lefty starter at MB, especially if Tseng jumps to AA.

LHP Rob Zastryzny developed nicely as a starter at Daytona and pitched better & better as the season wore on. He mixes & matches a lot, changing speeds on his fastball by manipulating his grip and arm angle. Tyler Skulina didn't develop like Zastryzny, fighting control problems and then getting hit hard too often when he did throw strikes. Skulina still could be a decent starter at AA or AAA, but he is at least one tick below Edwards and Johnson right now, although he should be in the Tennessee rotation in 2015.

Juan Carlos Paniagua is unhittable when he throws strikes, but he relies on a hard-to-command power-slider to get swings & misses. His 97 MPH fastball is very straight and he has difficulty throwing it for strikes, and although the Cubs used him as a starter at Daytona in 2014 to get him more innings, he projects as a late-inning reliever at AA Tennessee in 2015. He remiods me a lot of Pedro Strop.

As for the other starters who should get promoted to Tennessee in 2015, Tayler Scott is very hittable. His four-seamer tops out at 91, and his two seamer functions almost like a change-up at 84-85. Felix Pena is OK but nothing special, and so he will probably end up in the bullpen (middle-relief) when and if he gets to AAA (presuming he even gets that far while a Cub, since he can be a minor league FA post-2015).

The 2014 Tennessee starters beyond Edwards and Johnson aren't in the same class as the guys at the lower levels. Corey Black has major command issues and he projects as a "boom or bust" power reliever, not as a starter. Ivan Pineyro has continued to suffer from forearm tightness in the AFL (often a pre-cursor to TJS), but if healthy he would project as a AAA starter in 2015 and (if he can stay healthy) probably a starter at the MLB level.

So tio sumarize, the Cubs have several nice starting pitcher prospects, but most are at the lower levels.

Although he is not a starter, Cuban defector Armando Rivero has closer stuff, and I would say he has an excellent chance to win a job in the Cub bullpen in 2015. He is 27-years old and he was a closer in Serie Nacional (the Cuban major league) prior to defecting, so there is no reason to keep him at Iowa for another year if he pitches well in Spring Training.

I suspect the Cubs will park Arodys Vizcaino at Iowa for another season and develop him as a closer. He pitched on a rather limited schedule out of the bullpen in 2014, but the Cubs need to cut him loose in 2015 and see if he can handle the required demands and load of a late-inning reliever. After struggling upon getting promoted to Iowa from Tennessee, Vizcaino pitched "lights out" the last couple of weeks at Iowa prior to getting a September "cup of coffee" in Chicago.

The Cubs really need a good lefty reliever who can pitch reliably in the 7th & 8th innings. Wesley Wright is more of a #2 bullpen lefty. Zac Rosscup has the stuff to be a #1 lefty in the pen, but he struggles to throw strikes. Too bad the Cubs lost Jeff Beliveau off waivers a couple of years ago, because he is more what they need out of a LHRP. Hunter Cervenka is the only other lefty relief prospect above A-ball who projects as an MLB pitcher, although Sam Wilson could be the best one of all. Wilson should be the #1 lefty at FW in 2015, and he could get fast-tracked.

PHIL: Thanks - I feel like I won the AP Jackpot :)
I had the pleasure of watching Tseng at Kane County this summer. He was very strong - consistently in the low 90's, and kept the poor Beloit Bees - or whatever they are called - off balance until he got tired in the 6th (although it was only a 7-inning game - game 1 of a DH).
I was not impressed with Belliveau in his work with the big club, but I guess Joe Maddon knew how to get the best out of him.
Nice to hear about Carson Sands, and the Cuban, as well. As we know, many a solid pitcher get their starts in the pen - and I remember seeing Klayton Kershaw in the pen for the Dodgers pitching against the Cubbies - and dominating.
From what I gather in your thoughts (and you allude to this directly) - we have some nice prospects in the system - but only at the lower rungs right now.

"Clifton and Sands will be in the starting rotation at Ft. Wayne next season"
I hope they get a start or two at Fort Wayne while they're playing for South Bend!
(It's hard to tell the teams without a scorecard.)

It's official
Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 42s43 seconds ago Chicago, IL
Theo statement: "Jed and I provided updates to Rick via telephone and today informed him that we will indeed make a change."
"We offered Rick a choice of other positions with the Cubs, but he is of course free to leave the org. and pursue opportunities elsewhere."
See ya, Rickster.

"We offered Rick a choice of other positions with the Cubs, but he is of course free to leave the org. and pursue opportunities elsewhere."
how about manager at iowa so he can keep an eye on that olt fella

AZ Phil:
While looking for more Joe Maddon info I came across an article at Fangraphs about top July 2 international prospects. I remember that this year the Cubs were very limited due to intentionally overspending their budget the previous year. How are the Cubs positioned for international signings in 2015 and are they linked to any specific players at this time? Thanks in advance.

SONICWIND: The Cubs will continue to be under ISBP bonus restrictions (they cannot sign an international player subject to ISBP for more than a $250K bonus) until the start of the 2015-16 ISP on 7/2. Then they will get reset back to the same place they were at in the 2013-14 ISP when they signed Eloy Jimenez, Gleyber Torres, Jen-Ho Tseng and others... that is, UNLESS the long-proposed International Draft is implemented in the meantime.

The projected ISBP that each club will be assigned for the 2015-16 ISP has not been announced yet, but the Cubs will get the #9, 39, 69, and 99 slots.

I am not aware of the Cubs being linked to any of the top 2015 international prospects, but MLB has imposed new restrictions on clubs as far as working out prospects in advance at club facilities and making unofficial deals with players in advance, so I doubt that we will be hearing and reading as much about which teams are connected with which player as we have in the past.

And of course the Cubs are not under any limitations as far as how much of a bonus they can give to international players not subject to the ISBP limits (players 23 years or older who have spent all or parts of at least five seasons in an MLB-recognized foreign major league).

Ok everybody, what next? Which free agents should the Cubs sign? I know everyone says money is the ultimate factor, but, all things being pretty much equal, I think a free agent is going to be more likely to want to play for Maddon than Renteria. Renteria seemed well liked but Maddon has that almost impossible to live up to aura, Now the problem is going to be which free agent is good to sign? Most of them have terrible long term value. Free agency is just awful right now. Who do you guys think is worth the albatross that most long term contracts end up becoming?
Remember, the second half of their contract will most likely mean the team is paying for almost nothing unless the Cubs score on a rare exception.
I'm assuming they'll go after Lester and that most everyone will want that, but who else?
Here's a link to those currently eligible: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp...

lester, sheilds, scherzer...if we wanna talk team need + top tier.
along with what the cubs have, adding one of the above would give the cubs 2 top tier pitchers and an adequate 3/4 with hendricks + t.wood. if needed/desired at mid-season, they could go after another pitcher.
long term value and free agents are 2 things that rarely mix, especially when you're handing out contracts longer than 1-2 years. a big market team gets the youth so they can afford to over-pay every once in a while when the kids are in the pipeline to take the $$ hit off the entire payroll...well, the big market teams that don't just throw $$ at guys with no thought to the kids in the pipeline anyway.
things could happen on the trade market, too...impact things. i don't buy into the castro-trading thing this off-season, but they do have some interesting pieces which may be attractive to some teams. unfortunately for the pitching part of that, the angels have already tipped that they're looking to trade MLB-ready bats + prospect bats for pitching.
outside of pitching...i wonder if they'll make a run at c.rasmus for CF...

this team has specialized in lottery tickets the past many years.
he's a high-K, power hitting CF. i see him as a .250/.330 type hitter (when healthy), myself...nothing special.
it's pretty much the only lineup need the team has (CF) and he could probably be had for 5-10m a year depending on how many years a team wants to throw at him.
i'm not pining for him, but he's the only starter quality + "costly" bat i could see them going after in the FA market. that said, i wouldn't be shocked to see them not even consider him. i'm just tossing that out there based on age, projection, relative cost, and need.

The thing is, there isn't much that inspires me outside of pitching. I think they'll need to at least make a run at Lester or Scherzer. I honestly haven't seen much of Shields outside of the playoffs. I hope he was just tired. It's time to overpay for a pitcher, though, as much as I know I'll be grumbling about that pitcher's contract in year 5 of The Dynasty.

it seems the cubs have decided j.turner is worth a roster spot and $1m...picked up his option.
meh, no big deal...even though i wonder what they see in him aside from his age at this point. he's a long way from the 2011 version of his arsenal.

mlbtr has it's free agent predictions up and there is quite a few Cubs in their X-Mas stockings.
Predictions outside of the Cubs include: Jason Hammel-Twins; Victor Martinez and Luke Gregerson WSux; ARam-Brewers; Scherzer and Hanley Ram- Yanks; Shields and Liriano-Red Sox; Andrew Miller-Tigers.
They predict the Cubs go wild: Lester, Masterson and Peavy. Also Russell Martin, and Dave Robertson for the bullpen. I might have been picking as I am usually 100% wrong (winner of the Captain Wrongway Peachfuzz award) when TCR has held that annual contest. I do like Lester and would love Miller. Not sure about throwing love to the rest (I like Russell but doubt he's coming to the Cubs). Seems like Maddon has held the fort without a star catcher although he's had league average or slightly better ones like Dinner Navarro, John Jaso, Kelly Shoppach, Ryan Hannigan, Jose Molina. I expect them to get an experienced backup like David Ross although he isn't much of a hitter at this point. I hope they figure out someone that helps. The year of Navarro/Castillo was a pretty good combo, especially as Navarro was a switch hitter. Jed stein has always been price sensitive as far as the backup catcher expense and Navarro was a terrific signing. Baker seemed like more of a good team presence but added little on the field.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/2014-15...

so they have the cubs spending about $35-$40m on 3 SP and another $12-15m on r.martin.
neat.
i still don't get the r.martin thing...especially since welly has handled his pitchers quite well. it's one thing when it's time to pay him top dollar, but he's got a couple cheap years left (along with 3 years of club control).

Brewers acquired 1B/DH Adam Lind from the Blue Jays for RHP Marco Estrada. The 31-year-old has slashed .301/.366/.490 with 29 homers and 107 RBI over 239 games the past two seasons with the Jays and will add a nice left-handed power dimension to the middle of the Brewers lineup. He is a below-average defender at first base though, and should get plenty of days off against tough southpaws. Nov 1 - 2:22 PM

Since Jacob Turner was not eligible to be an Article XX-B free-agent (he has just over two years of MLB Service Time), the only effect of having a club option was that the Cubs could have made Turner an "auto-renewal" player by declining the club option, and if he became an auto-renewal player the Cubs could have saved $200K by tendering Turner a guaranteed or non-guaranteed contract for no less than $800K (if maximum 20% pay cut), or non-tendered Turner and either offer him a contract for low base pay (no less than $500K) below $800K plus maybe a performance bonus, or maybe even a minor league conttract.

But the Cubs decided not to mess with Turner and just pay him the $1M.

Bottom line is Turner was not eligible to be FA if the club option was declined, unless the Cubs had decided to non-tender him and take the chance that he would not accept whatever salary terms the Cubs offered.

Contract sites say he gets $500k if he's in the minors and has the same option for next year ($1m/500k in minors). If I'm reading this right, Cubs would come out ahead most likely if he had a decent season this year and can just pay him $1m next year instead of arbitratiob cost. Seems like a decent low-risk bet to me, but a bet nonetheless.

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. Well I guess they kinda did beat 'em but the issue lingers a bit, so, buy 'em! Brilliant. I wonder if that came out of the Cubs budget or the Obama-is-a-dirty-Muslim-Terrorist budget.

I'd be good with Scherzer or Lester, maybe Masterson if they feel he's fixable (or similar top tier potential at mid-tier prices) and a vet bat or two. Don't think they'll go after Martin myself, but I could be wrong.

Think a trade for Miguel Montero would make more sense, could use some lefties in that lineup. Be nice if they'd hurry up and get the DH in the NL already and they could sign Victor Martinez and see if he can catch 40-50% of the time.

I'd be happy with that scenario, especially if Martin was involved, although the back end of his contract will probably get ugly. Montero would be nice, too. As for DH, gotta wait now til the Maddon Dynasty is over so we can watch his wheels spin.

Would hope they go for a lower career IP in Scherzer over an over worked Lester and get a Liriano/Masterclown while avoiding Peavy. I could see this group just going all in on Lester and Scherzer at 20-25 per year on both and saying we don't need much more since we are set on salaries and would only have to give a second and third round pick this year since our first round pick is protected (since we have 9th pick) knowing next year we'd loose a first rounder for Price or Zimmerman. A Gomes or Hunter would be a good veteran OF, forget Martin he's over priced and not that worth it. Not interested in a closer - paying for one is usually not worth it see - Nathan etc. Love the Montero trade option would be a good one.
Its going to be an exciting off season!

Here's my prediction:
1.) we are gonna have a HELL of a lotta fun as fans next year. We won't make playoffs but it's gonna be nonstop excitement.
2.) we will NOT sign Lester Shields Sherzer or trade for a top pitcher either. That might frustrate some peeps. If we DO sign somone it will be Lester.
Did I mention how interesting and fun next season will be? Plus we will all re-learn what it feels like to care about winning again - which honestly should freak most of us out at times. Maybe the Bulls/Hawks will work those muscles for us a little.

1 pitcher who's been established for a single season, the rookie, a prayer for a t.wood bounce-back, and a 4 and 5 that barely belongs in AAA doesn't sound like a recipe for fun.
...along with a high possibility of keeping k.bryant in AAA until may/june+
maybe someone could tell the rickets that all the free agents are conservatives and throwing 10s of millions at them will help sway the senate to republican control. someone slap some elephant stickers on lester's ride.
that said, there are some decent "2nd tier" pitching options out there...complete with the risk of an ejax gamble on their performance for their payout.

I'm oddly enjoying WSCR spending the last few days talking Cubs 24/7. WSux fans must be frustrated that their station is in transition and has been invaded by Cubs talk. With WBBM being the new Cubs radio flagship, their sister sports talker has had a background change and even the unlistenable Dan Bernstein has had to use Cub sources to fill his airwaves. The relationship will eventually be similar to WBBM (also the Bears outlet) and the Bears. They advertise during their commercial breaks that they are the "Home for Bears fans". I wonder what is next for them, hiring a host who is a real Cub fan? Their past MO was hiring the most negative Cub fan they could find (Hanley). Even those type of hosts seem to realize that the battleship Cub has turned the direction 180 degrees.

Baseball America reports that the Cubs have signed (re-signed) LHP Hunter Cervenka and LHP Jeffry Antigua to 2015 minor league successor contracts.

RHRP Marcus Hatley, RHSP Dae-Eun Rhee, and RHP Starling Peralta (probably the Cubs top three post-2014 minor league 6YFA) have apparently not yet signed 2015 minor league successor contracts.

The Cubs have until 5 PM (Eastern) today to decide whether to add any of their unsigned Rule 55 6YFA to the 40-man roster, if they are unable to entice the player to sign a 2015 minor league successor contract in the meantime. NOTE: The Cubs also must reinstate Ryan Sweeney and Justin Ruggiano from the 60-day DL by 5 PM (Eastern) today.

SECOND CONTRACT FA: Jesus Arias, RHP (previously released by CLE)Humberto Garcia, INF (previously released by CHW)Yeiker Lovera, RHP (previously released by CLE)Nate Maldonado, C (previously released by CHC)Manny Ramirez, OF (previously released by TEX)Brohiglyn Rivero, RHP (previously released by TB)Julio Sanchez, RHP (previously released by COL)Roberto Vahlis, C (previously released by TOR)

Once a player is declared an MLB Rule 55 minor league FA, the player can sign a major league or minor league contract with any club, including the player's former club.

Because Cervenka and Antigua signed 2015 minor league succsessor contracts, neither of them will be declared MLB Rule 55 minor league 6YFA this afternoon, although both will be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft next month.

BTW, the last player the Cubs selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft (RHP Hector Rondon from CLE in December 2012) and the last player the Cubs lost in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft (RHP Marcos Mateo to AZ in December 2013) were minor league 6YFA-eligibles who signed minor league successor contracts prior to becoming a 6YFA, so it would not be that much of a surprise if Cervenka gets plucked in the Rule 5 Draft next month.

A free-agent signed to a minor league contract or re-signed to a minor league successor contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection.

The Cubs did not add any of their MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent eligibles to their 40-man roster prior to yesterday's 5 PM (Eastern) deadline, but six Rule 55 minor league FA eligibles from other organizations were added to their paremt club's MLB 40-man roster:

Recent comments

A's have decided to not be horrible and to pay their minor leaguers through the end of the season (august)

"“I changed my mind after spending a lot of time talking to our team,” A's owner John Fisher told the Chronicle. “I concluded I’d made a mistake. I’ve listened to our fans and others, and there is no question that this is the right thing to do. We clearly got this decision wrong. These players represent our future and we will immediately begin paying our minor-league players. I take responsibility and I’m making it right.""

I'm in. What more do we need, really. A beer. A game or two. The 162 game season can wait until next year (I hope). Have fun with a micro-mini season. Let the powers fight over the labor agreements. They can finish by next spring, right?

IN BRIEF (Tribune, from their mini-sports section): In a letter, MLB rejects players’ plan for 114 gamesNews servicesMajor League Baseball rejected the players’ proposal for a 114-game schedule in the pandemic-delayed season with no additional salary cuts, telling the union that teams have no reason to think 82 games is possible and now will discuss even fewer.Players made their proposal Sunday, five days after management’s initial economic plan.

I agree. Laura is the real deal. I think she was the major influence that showed Tom R. and Crane Kenney how to show a "human side" and deal realistically and in a non-threatening way, with the local Chicago politicians. Kenney was clearly clueless in his initial attempts regarding the neighborhood, the Rooftop owners, and the Wrigley Field rebuild.